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Beira Alta: from the Serra da Estrela to the shepherd's blanket
Portugal's mountains: the Serra da Estrela, Guarda, the granite villages and Viseu. Plus the papa wool blanket and the woodwork Beira Alta still shapes by hand.
In this article
By Luís Serra, co-founder of Ra-Ro · View profile
About a 4-minute read
Beira Alta is the mountain heart of Portugal. Here winter paints the Serra da Estrela white, rivers rise among boulders and the granite villages seem carved from the stone itself. It is a harsh and generous land, of shepherds and of wool.
From the rooftop of mainland Portugal to the historic stone villages, Beira Alta is a region for those who love nature and authenticity. On this route we travel through the mountains, the towns and the villages that make it unique, and at the end we show pieces of handicraft from Beira Alta, from the wool of the cobertor de papa to hand-worked timber.
What to see in Beira Alta
Serra da Estrela
The rooftop of mainland Portugal. In winter the snow falls; in summer, the trails open onto glacial valleys and high-altitude lakes. It was among these mountains that the Serra dog was born and, over generations, the cobertor de papa was woven.
Guarda
The highest city in the country, guarded by a granite Gothic cathedral that has withstood centuries of wind. Its cold and noble streets tell the story of a border always kept under watch.
Linhares da Beira
One of the Historic Villages of Portugal, with stone houses and a medieval castle suspended above the valley. Here time seems to have stopped, and that is its magic.
Viseu
A city of art and of Dão wine, with a historic centre of squares and churches where you long to lose yourself without haste. The painting of Grão Vasco left its mark here.
To plan your trip, the official portal Visit Portugal gathers all the information about the region. And to discover the pieces linked to this territory, see our collection by region.
What to take home: handicraft from Beira Alta
In Beira Alta, the cold taught people to weave. The cobertor de papa, thick and warm, protected shepherds for centuries and today dresses sofas and memories. And the timber of the mountains gains new life in the hands of those who work it.
From the snow of the mountains to the wool of the blanket, Beira Alta warms those who come to know it and those who take it home.
Discover all the pieces by region at Ra-Ro.
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